Scarifying attachment for bulldozer blades



June 17, 1958 G. CONRAD SCARIFYING ATTACHMENT FOR BULLDOZER BLADES Filed Jan. 5, 1955 2 Shets-Sheet 1 m w w d N U E s r V E m a W m 0. r mm m w wm .wn mm 6 w mm mm 3 3w NW Qt mm H w Q N MW N June 17, 1958 G. CONRAD ,8

SCARIFYING ATTACHMENT FOR BULLDOZER BLADES Filed Jan. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 George Conrad INVENTOR.

BY w -Mzaq,

States Patent.

" 2,838,858 Patented June 17, 1958 SCARIFYIN G ATTACHMENT FOR BULLDOZER BLADES George Conrad, Huron, S. Dak. Application January 3, 1955, Serial No. 479,519 '6 Claims. (Cl. 37-145) This invention relates in general to new and useful "improvements for attachment for bulldozers, and more specifically, to a scarifying attachment for bulldozer blades.

There have been devised many types of scarifying attachments for bulldozer blades which cooperate successfully. However, the attaching means for such scarifying attachments are of such a nature whereby it is very difiicult, if not impossible, for one man to mount the attachment on the bulldozer blade without special equip ment. Accordingly, this necessitates either a lag in operation, or requires that a helper be sent along with the bulldozer operator to attach and remove the scarifying attachment as necessary.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved scarifying attachment for bulldozer blades which is so constructed whereby it may be readily attached by the operator of the bulldozer without requiring any help from any person or utilizing any special equipment whatsoever. v

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved scarifying attachment which includes mounting means so constructed whereby the scarifying attachment is loosely attached to a bulldozer blade and at the same time is constantly urged into a bulldozer blade clamping position by working forces on the scarifying blade thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved scarifying attachment for bulldozer blades which may be rested upon the ground in a generally horizontal position and engaged with a bulldozer blade for tilting the scarifying attachment up into a generally upright position whereby the scarifying attachment will then fall onto the bulldozer blade and be normally retained thereon against removal except through a reversal of the attaching operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in'the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the scarifying attachment which is the subject of this invention and shows the general arrangement of the components thereof;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure 1 and shows further the construction -of the scarifying attachment;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the scarifying attachment on a reduced scale showing the scarifying attachment resting upon the ground in its normal at rest position and being engaged by a lower edge of thebulldozer blade for tilting it into a generally upright position;

7 Figure 4 is a view similar toFigure 3 and shows the scarifying attachment after, being tilted to an upright position, from its horizontal position in Figure 3;

.Also secured to the outer face of the Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 and shows the relationship between the upper socket portions of the scarifying attachment and the upper edge portion of the bulldozer blade after the bulldozer blade has been lowered from its position in Figure 4 and the upper part of the scarifying attachment being ready to drop over the upper edge of the bulldozer blade; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the scarifying attachment after being attached to the bulldozer blade through the upward movement of the bulldozer from its position in Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the structural features of the scarifying attachment which is the subject of this invention are best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and that the scarifying attachment is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The scarifying attachment 10 includes a pair of transversely spaced scarifying blades 12 which are secured together in spaced parallel relation by a transversely disposed connecting member 14.

Extending upwardly from the upper part of each of the scarifying blades 12 is a mounting frame which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 16. The mounting frame 16 includes a vertical frame member 18 which is secured to the outer face of the scarifying blade 12 with which it is associated and which is twisted intermediate its ends so that the upper portion thereof is disposed transversely of the scarifying attachment 10.

associated scarifying blade 12 is a forwardly and upwardly extending frame member 2%. Extending between the frame members 18 and 20 and overlying the upper edge thereof is a frame member 22. The frame member 22 terminates at its rear end in a rearwardly disposed portion which may be considered a mounting bracket 24.

The mounting frames 16 are connected together by a transverse bar 26. The bar 26 overlies the frame members 22 substantially at their intersections with the upper ends of the frame members 18.

Secured to the underside of each of the mounting brackets 24 is a transverse bar 28 which may be considered a part of the mounting bracket 24. The bar 23 is spaced rearwardly of the upper end of the frame member 18 and together with the frame member 18 and the mounting bracket 24 form a bulldozer blade receiving socket 30. It is to be understood that the scarifying attachment 10 includes two sets of sockets 30 which are disposed in transverse relation.

The sockets 3d are intended to have received therein the upper edge portion of a bulldozer blade so as to limit downward, forward and rearward movement of the upper portion of the frames 16 as well as the scarifying blades 12 in order that the lower part of the scarifying attachment 10 may be restrained relative to a bulldozer blade, there is secured to each of the scarifying blades 12 a lower mounting bracket 32. The mounting bracket 32 includes a relatively wide vertical leg 34 which is secured directly to its associated scarifying blade 12 by suitable fasteners 36. The fasteners 36 are selectively received in apertures 38 formed in the scarifying blade 12 so that the mounting bracket 32 may be vertically adjusted with respect to the mounting bracket 24. The mounting bracket 32 also includes a horizontal leg 40 which slopes downwardly and rearwardly in diverging relation with respect to the mounting bracket 24. The purpose of this diverging relation will be set forth in more detail hereinafter.

In order to limit the upward movement of a bulldozer blade with respect to the scarifying attachment 10 during a mounting operation, there is carried by each mounting bracketgportion 20 at the rear end thereof an inverted L-shaped bracket 42. Each L-shaped bracket 42 is so connected to its associated mounting bracket portion 24 so as to extend rearwardly therefrom and open downwardly and rearwardly. The operation of the brackets 42 will be set forth in more detail hereinafter.

Attached to the forward end of each of the frame members 22 is a generally L-shaped bracket 44. The L-shaped bracket 44 includes a first leg 46 which overlies and is secured to its associated frame member 22. The bracket 44 also includes a second leg 48 which is intended to engage the ground and support the scarifying attachment 10 in its generally horizontal position.

As is best illustrated in Figure 1, the mounting brackets -32 are arranged in pairs, there being one mounting bracket 32 on each side of each of the scarifying blades 12. If desired, the fasteners 36 may pass entirely through the mounting brackets 32 so that a single pair of fasteners 36 may secure a pair of mounting brackets 32 to its associated scarifying blade 12.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4, and 6, it will be seen that there is illustrated the manner in which the scarifying attachment is secured to a bulldozer blade, such as the bulldozer blade 59. The scarifying attachment 10 is normally at rest with the brackets 44 and the points of the scarifying blades 12 engaging the ground. At this time the legs 40 of the mounting brackets 32 slope up wardly and rearwardly. The bulldozer is so positioned whereby the blade 50 thereof is aligned with the legs 40 and the lower edge thereof is then lowered upon the legs 40.

Next, as is best illustrated in Figure 4, the bulldozer blade 50 is pulled rearwardly and at the same time is permitted to lower gradually so that the scarifying attachment 10 is pivoted about the points of the scarifying blades 12 to a generally upstanding position. At this time, the upper edge of the bulldozer blades 50 will normally engage the rear surface of the bars 28. However, in many instances the brackets 42 will engage the upper edge of the blade 50 so as to limit relative vertical movement between the scarifying attachment and the bulldozer blade 50.

After the scarifying attachment 10 has reached its position in Figure 4, the bulldozer blade 50 is gradually lowered with result that the scarifying attachment 10 further pivots rearwardly about the tip of the scarifying blades 12. This results in the upper edge of the bulldozer blade 50 entering into the sockets 39. When this has been accomplished, the bulldozer blade 54} is moved upwardly, to the position illustrated in Figure 6, with the result that the scarifying attachment 1t) pivots about the upper edge of the bulldozer blade 50 and the lower edge of the bulldozer blade 50 again engages the leg 4!) of the mounting brackets 32. Inasmuch as the legs 49 diverge rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket portions 24, it will be seen that rearward working forces upon the scarifying blades 12 will result in the sliding of the bulldozer blade 59 upwardly along the legs 40 with the result that the bulldozer blade 50 is wedged between the mounting bracket portion 24 and the legs 40.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the structure of the scarifying attachment which is the subject of this invention is such that it may be easily secured to a bulldozer blade without the help of any one and at the same time the operator of a bulldozer may remain seated on the bulldozer and perform the necessary steps entirely with the bulldozer so as to eliminate manual operation. Also, the scarifying attachment 10 can be removed from the bulldozer blade it? by reversal of the above steps of operation.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and 4 equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A scarifying attachment for bulldozer blades comprising a scarifying blade, and attaching means secured to said scarifying blade, said attaching means including a fixed and permanent upper bracket forming a fully open downwardly directed socket for receiving an upper edge of a bulldozer blade, and a fixed lower bracket engageable with a lower edge of a bulldozer blade, said lower bracket being L-shaped and engageable with only the lower edge and front face of a bulldozer blade to restrict upward and rearward movement of said scarifying blade.

2; A scarifying attachment for bulldozer blades comprising a scarifying blade, and attaching means secured to said scarifying blade, saidattaching means including a fixed upper bracket forming a fully opened downwardly directed socket for receiving an upper edge of a bulldozer blade, and a fixed lower bracket engageable with a lower edge of a bulldozer blade, said lower bracket being L shaped and engageable with only the lower edge and front face of a bulldozer blade to restrict upward and rearward movement of said scarifying blade, said upper and lower bracket being spaced apart a preset distance equal to the height of the bulldozer blade.

3. A scarifying attachment for bulldozer blades comprising a scarifying blade, and attaching means secured to said scarifying blade, said attaching means including a fixed upper bracket forming a fully open downwardly and front face of a bulldozer blade to restrict upward and rearward movement of said scarifying blade, said upper and lower bracket being spaced apart a preset distance equal to the height of the bulldozer blade, said L-shaped bracket having a lower leg sloping downwardly and rearwardly and diverging from said upper bracket whereby working forces on said scarifying blade urge the bulldozer blade into said socket.

4. A scarifying attachment for bulldozer blades comprising a scarifying blade, and attaching means secured to said scarifying blade, said attaching means including a fixed upper bracket forming a fully open downwardly directed socket'for receiving an upper edge of a bulldozer blade, and a selectively fixed lower bracket engageable with a lower edge of a bulldozer blade, said lower bracket being L-shaped and engageable with only the lower edge and front face of a bulldozer blade to restrict upward and rearward movement of said scarifying blade, said upper and lower bracket being spaced apart a distance equal to the height of the bulldozer blade, said L-shaped bracket having a lower leg sloping downwardly and rearwardly and diverging from said upper bracket whereby working forces on said scarifying blade urge the bulldozer blade into said socket, said brackets being adjustable relative to each other whereby bulldozer blades of various heights may be accommodated.

5. A scarifying attachment for bulldozer blades comprising a scarifying blade, and attaching means secured to saidscarifying blade, said attaching means including an upper bracket forming a socket for receiving an upper edge of a bulldozer blade, and a lower bracket engageable with a lower edge of a bulldozer blade, said lower bracket being L-shaped and engageable with only the lower edge and front face of a bulldozer blade to restrict upward and rearward movement of said scarifying blade, a rest member disposed forwardly of said scarifying blade whereby said scarifying blade may be rested in a generally horizontal position for convenient pick up by a bulldozer blade.

assasse 5 6 6. A scarifying attachment for bulldozer blades comdozer blade to limit relative movement between said prising a scarifying blade, and attachment means secured scarifying blade and the bulldozer blade in a scarifying to said scarifying blade, said attaching means including blade attaching operation. an upper bracket forming a socket for receiving an upper edge of a bulldozer blade, and a lower bracket engageable 5 References Cited in the file of this patent with a lower edge of a bulldozer blade, said lower bracket being L-shaped and engageable with only the lower edge UNITED STATES PATENTS and front face of a bulldozer blade to restrict upward and 1,944,307 Spoon Jan. 23, 1934 rearward movement of said scarifying blade, a stop 2,281,928 Fletcher May 5, 1942 member extending upwardly and rearwardly from said 10 2,473,505 Brock June 21, 1949 upper bracket for engaging an upper edge of the bull- 2,536,308 Peirce Jan. 2, 1951 

